China blacks out CNN broadcast every time it mentions the tennis star Peng Shuai | Hacker News Reader

China blacks out CNN broadcast every time it mentions the tennis star Peng Shuai

insider.com

36 pointsschleck86 comments

Given that the state media (the Global Times and CGTN) are showing images and videos of Peng Shuai (following the strong stance of WTA [1]), I think CCP is currently in damage control mode.

[1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29280947

I speculate that Peng Shuai is currently alive, and if the released images and videos are recent, she is treated much better than some political dissents (such as Ai Wei Wei) under confinement, although I think even so house arrest or confinement should not be justified. It is clear that her external communication are currently under control, and CCP is showing only what needs to be shown (she is alive, only through state media, only to foreigners, especially WTA and other outspoken tennis players).

I think CCP is trying to work out a “solution”. CCP wants WTA to stay, the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic to run, and perhaps also that the #metoo movement not to spread, while I think the Weibo Post of Peng Shuai suggests that she currently wants acknowledgement (名份, much like that Zhang Gaoli does not disappear) more than justice (that Zhang Gaoli goes to jail for his action) [2]—even though the actions of Zhang is clearly through force, she later developed certain affection to Zhang Gaoli until Zhang tried to disappear [2]. (Again, not that I agree with what Zhang Gaoli did. A tangential question is, does a Stockholm syndrome make a #metoo less #metoo?)

I speculate that CCP may give Peng Shuai what she wants (for example, force Zhang Gaoli to acknowledge Peng Shuai, perhaps privately; or simply “remind” her that she could be treated much worse unless she complies, that is, via coercion), on the condition that this would make WTA to stay and the Beijing Winter Olympic to run and the #metoo movement not to spread (for example, Peng Shuai needs to say something publicly to control the PR, likely via state media). They may be busy coming up with a story for Peng Shuai to tell the world.

[2]: https://www.whatsonweibo.com/the-silent-storm-peng-shuais-we...

On a similar note, someone from China mentioned on Reddit that the CNN coverage is not only blocked by domains but also on-device by the system's default browser, so using a VPN doesn't circumvent the block.

This lines up with the recent reports on Xiaomi devices sending wordlists containing 'Free Tibet' and other political slogans with server requests [1].

[1] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/xiaomi-says-its-devices...

Now new photos and videos of her is back on social media, the western coverage of this story is getting completely silly:

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/59361505

Peng Shuai: New video 'insufficient' evidence of Chinese player's welfare - WTA

The Global Times is CCP owned. In other words, the three pieces of evidence allegedly proving her well-being are all released by state-run outlets. As for the images and videos, there isn't even a way of verifying whether they were taking this week or a year ago.

I do have to say though that I find it hilarious how the only source she clearly authored herself, a selfie, has Winnie the Pooh in the background (third image, framed photo standing on the desk)

https://twitter.com/shen_shiwei/status/1461715435385020419/p...

The ones claiming it not being sufficient evidence is the World Tennis Association by the way, not the BBC.

WTA is doing the right thing. Once the government had demonstrated that it can and will straight up wipe social media presence of a person who accused it of sexual assault, assuming any evidence supplied by such government to be false is a safe bet—faking it would be small beans by comparison, and the motive has clearly not gone away.

The classic actions of an innocent person

Reply on news.ycombinator.com